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Believe it or not, we're only two weeks away from Survivor Series. Thanks to Evolution and Crown Jewel, the build is going to be shorter this year than it was last year. That's unfortunate because the build was a lot of fun last year.
Either way, with the Champion vs. Champion matches largely set (with the exception of the tag team titles, which will be another point of interest), we should start to see Raw and SmackDown begin filling out their traditional Survivor Series teams tomorrow night.
Let's now make some predictions about how those teams will fill out. We'll start with the men's teams on the red and blue brands.
#1 Baron Corbin (Raw)
Far from the most exciting choice, it nevertheless wouldn't be WWE without a convoluted authority figure angle, which the company loves showcasing at Survivor Series in particular.
Baron Corbin's participation in the tournament seemed sealed when he got involved in multiple controversies at Crown Jewel with the Universal Championship match and the World Cup. With multiple controversies surrounding him, including a cross-brand one, Baron Corbin's participation on Raw's men's team seems assured.
#2 Kurt Angle (Raw)
Another choice that's far from exciting, I nevertheless have to expect it. Kurt Angle's controversy with Baron Corbin isn't over yet. Technically, he's still the GM of Raw. His powers are simply in limbo. Survivor Series might be a good time to start reasserting them, at least in his mind.
We also need to keep in mind that WWE loves trotting out its part-time legends at big events like this (last year should be a major indication if you had any doubt about this), so I fully expect Kurt Angle to participate in the men's traditional Survivor Series match.
Will this evolve into a struggle for Raw?
#3 Braun Strowman (Raw)
Braun Strowman also has a score to settle with Baron Corbin. It was the acting GM, after all, that hit him from behind to start his championship match at Crown Jewel at a disadvantage. The Monster Among Men will almost certainly find his way on Raw's Survivor Series team, but will he use it as a way to settle the score with Baron Corbin? There's also a certain other member of the team that I'll get into who Braun Strowman will have a rivalry with.
There are multiple people Braun Strowman will want revenge on as he heads into Survivor Series.
Again, it would be far from the most interesting story to run with, but it's something you need to expect, watching WWE. The company loves running internal rivalries on a Survivor Series team. This is just one of the ways in which WWE can do so.
#4 Drew McIntyre (Raw)
Survivor Series has usually been considered the least important of the big four PPVs, but the November event usually offers a preview or two about the company's plans for Wrestlemania. This is the time when those plans start becoming concrete.
It's with this in mind that Drew McIntyre is one of the superstars I'm keeping a close eye on at Survivor Series.
It's a certainty that Drew McIntyre will be on Raw's men's team at Survivor Series. He has a score to settle with Braun Strowman, true, but beyond that, the Scottish Psychopath has suddenly emerged as the shining hope of Monday Night Raw. He may be the only one who can bring the Universal Championship back after the disaster of Crown Jewel.
Vince McMahon supposedly loves McIntyre. Now we'll get to see just how true that is. If Drew McIntyre isn't the sole survivor that brings victory to Raw's team, the company is even crazier than we thought.
#5 Bobby Lashley (Raw)
Rounding out the Raw men's team will be Bobby Lashley, who needs some more momentum off the back of his heel turn. I don't believe that WWE has much long-term plans for Bobby Lashley, but the company will still want to keep him relevant enough and so give him a spot on the team at Survivor Series in order to do so. Let's be honest - repeated feuds with Finn Balor isn't the way to stay relevant at this point in 2018. He'll need to do something else. He's already felt like he doesn't matter a whole lot despite the heel turn that a lot of people wanted to see for a long time now.
How well Bobby Lashley does at Survivor Series is anyone's guess. Maybe he'll get an elimination or two, or maybe he'll just be there to boost someone from SmackDown like Daniel Bryan.
#6 Shane McMahon (SmackDown)
Shane McMahon. Shane McMahon! "The best in the world."
If you don't think this deliberate act of trolling at Crown Jewel was done to set up a scenario where Shane O'Mac hogs attention at Survivor Series, I don't know what to tell you. He'll certainly be the leader of SmackDown's men's team because of course, he will be. He'll get to feud with Baron Corbin and taunt Kurt Angle also due to authority figure shenanigans which will underpin the whole "brand supremacy" angle.
Sorry to tell you, but this tired old story is coming soon. You know it and I know it.
About the best we can hope for at this year's Survivor Series is that Shane McMahon won't be the last man standing for the SmackDown team. We probably won't see him fend off two superstars easily this time around, at least. Hopefully.
#7 Daniel Bryan (SmackDown)
Hot off the heels of his hard-fought WWE Championship loss, Daniel Bryan is going to want to seek redemption. For him, that story can start by landing himself on SmackDown's Survivor Series team and with a good performance at the upcoming event itself.
As I mentioned before, Survivor Series is about the time when WrestleMania plans start becoming concrete in WWE, so Daniel Bryan is another superstar you'll want to keep a close eye on at the November 17th spectacular. How well he does in Los Angeles will be a key indicator of where the company intends to go with him heading into WrestleMania 35 on April 7th, 2019.
If he's to complete his comeback story with a title win, his fans will certainly want him to get a couple of eliminations and fight to the end of the bitter war with Monday Night Raw.
#8 Rey Mysterio (SmackDown)
If you don't think that Rey Mysterio is going to be on the blue brand's Survivor Series team hot off the heels of his eagerly anticipated return, you've got another thing coming.
Sure, it would be better for the future if Andrade "Cien" Almas could use the event to prove himself, but WWE is all about bringing out past legends at big events like this, regardless of the future. This practice isn't going to stop any time soon. The company could do much worse than Rey Mysterio. Take a look over on what I expect to be the Raw team for confirmation on this. Or just take a look back at last year's teams if you have an objection to that.
Rey Mysterio also has a potential internal rivalry with another of his teammates to play off of as an internal dispute.
#9 The Miz (SmackDown)
WWE loves internal rivalries to derail Survivor Series plans, and The Miz potentially has three on his own team. His rivalry with Daniel Bryan is probably only on pause. He also has a budding rivalry with Rey Mysterio. Finally, he might have a coming rivalry with Shane McMahon thanks to the off the wall goings on in the World Cup tournament at Crown Jewel on Friday.
With three potential internal dissensions in the cards, I would be shocked if WWE doesn't want to take the plunge and explore those things at Survivor Series on November 17th. The scenario gives the company plenty of room for the shenanigans it just loves booking at its pay per view events.
I just hope that The Miz won't find himself in the role of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens this year and get shafted by the Shane McMahon meat grinder.
#10 Randy Orton (SmackDown)
It wouldn't be Survivor Series without Randy Orton. The Apex Predator has made the November spectacular one of his calling cards, having been sole survivor on numerous occasions throughout his long career.
Recall that just two years ago, he was the sole survivor on the SmackDown side, which vaulted him into a victory at the Royal Rumble just two months later. Again, Survivor Series is an important event in terms of revealing WrestleMania plans.
Though I don't expect Randy Orton to repeat the success he had two years ago, he's nevertheless always going to be one to watch. He'll probably be a linchpin of SmackDown's offering at the big event on April 7th, 2019. Pay close attention to the way he performs on November 17th. He's always going to be lurking in the shadows (which is perfect for his current heel turn) as a major threat.
